When your.... is having a baby!

My lovely hair stylist is having a baby! Yay! Naturally, because I'm me, I had to get her some board books for her sweet pea.

Many people like to give books at baby showers. It's a wonderful way to start (or build up) a child's first library! But if there's one thing I know, it's that SOMEONE will show up with a copy of GOODNIGHT MOON or WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE or BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE? I can pretty much GUARANTEE they will get these books, if they don't have them already.

Now, before you start yelling, I want to clarify that these are EXCELLENT books. They should absolutely be in a baby's collection. I'm just pointing this out because if someone else is getting them these books, guess what? YOU CAN BUY THEM SOMETHING ELSE THAT THEY WON'T ALREADY HAVE! But oh my gosh, what should you get for your favorite hair stylist/postperson/running buddy/work spouse/crazy cat lady? There are HUNDREDS of board books to choose from!

FEAR NOT! I'VE GOT YOU!

Not every book produced as a board book is actually FOR babies. The content isn't developmentally right or the art is not in a style that a baby could see well. While some may be more engaging for older babies rather than infants, I have tried my best to include books here that I DO think are baby/toddler-appropriate. Also, most of these were published within the last 5 years.

Click on each title to expand and see suggestions.

ARCHITECT

MY FIRST SHAPES WITH FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT by Frank Lloyd Wright

Start learning about shapes with one of the US's most renown architects! The simple text shows how Lloyd Wright used each shape in his designs.

ASTRONAUT

WHERE'S THE ASTRONAUT by Ingela P. Arrhenius

This series is a lift-the-flap with a new twist - the flaps are soft felt! These are easy for young hands to manipulate. Look for the astronaut and other space creatures hiding in the book!

ARTIST

THE ARTIST WHO PAINTED A BLUE HORSE by Eric Carle

Eric Carle is so much more than the Very Hungry Caterpillar! Who says a horse can't be blue? Not this artist! What else can you imagine?

BASQUIAT COLORS

Learn colors with art from one of the US's most celebrated artists! Color words are given in English, Spanish and French.

BAKER

COOK IN A BOOK: CAKE or COOK IN A BOOK: COOKIES

These books are a bit complicated for a little one but if you're hoping to introduce the world of baking (and following a recipe) to them, this is a great fun, interactive, vocabulary-filled choice.

BALLOON ARTIST

BALLOON ART ABC by Masayoshi Matsumoto

Introduce your baby to the alphabet through balloon art letters and objects created by a master balloon artist!

BIRDER

ODD BIRDS: MEET NATURE'S WEIRDEST FLOCK by Laura Gehl and Gareth Lucas

First of all, that owl on the cover can see into my SOUL. The art in this fun rhyming book filled with facts about birds like the condor, frigate bird, and blue-footed booby is absolutely stunning.

BUILDER

TAP TAP BANG BANG by Emma Garcia

Another great Emma Garcia title! Learn the names of various tools and make their noises, too! Bright cut paper style illustrations with googly eyes make this one fun to look at over and over.

CAMPER

HELLO WORLD: LET'S GO CAMPING by Jill MacDonald

This is a basic primer on camping, with lots of great vocabulary and facts. Take it along on your first trip to the great outdoors with your baby!

THE GREAT OUTDOORS by Ingela P. Arrhenius

Simple text, sharp illustrations and interestingly shaped pages will make this a go-to book!

CAT LOVER

SCRATCHIE: A TOUCH-AND-FEEL CATVENTURE by Maria Putri

We love a touch-and-feel book! And in this one, we get to touch (or scratch) everything our cat might scratch. And when we're done, maybe we can give the cat in the book a scratch too?

CAT'S FIRST BABY by Natalie Nelson

There are plenty of books to help a child get used to a new sibling. But what if your firstborn is a cat? Luckily Natalie Nelson has considered that they might have some feelings about the new baby too. (See also: Dog's First Baby)

DJ

DJ BABY by DJ Burton and Andy J. Pizza

Spin the records on this interactive board book with bright colors and wiggly shapes.

DANCER

UNICORN'S WOBBLY BOTTOM DANCE by Kit Frost and Sam Rennocks

Join Unicorn in the wobbly bottom dance! Sliders and other movement elements make this interactive book silly and fun! Make up your own wobbly bottom dance!

DOCTOR

BEAR HAS A BELLY by Jane Whittingham

Learn about the parts of the human body by comparing them to animals! Bear has a belly; do you have a belly? You do! The photographs are utterly squeee-ably cute.

DOG LOVER

THE BABIES AND DOGGIES BOOK by John Schindel and Molly Woodward

Did you know babies and doggies can do the same kinds of things? They can! And this book will show you- through sweet photographs of the babies... and doggies. (See also: The Babies and Kitties Book)

LET'S FIND YAYA AND BOO (AT HOME, AT THE PARK, ON THE GO, OUTDOORS) by Andrew Knapp

Work together to find the cleverly hidden pups in each photograph, and learn some new vocabulary on the way!

ENGLISH TEACHER

ONOMOTOPANDA by Janik Coat

Enjoy a cute introduction to onomatopoeia in this silly story of a panda's day: the alarm starts with a "brrrrrring!" and we continue from there! Try others in the "Grammar Zoo" series: Hippoposites, Comparrotives, Rhymoceros, and Llamaphones.

FASHION DESIGNER

RED HAT, PINK BOOTS by Nelleke Verhoeff

Mix-and-match articles of clothing in this split-page book. Who says it has to match according to traditional conventions? Release your inner designer! Bright, blocky illustrations and vocabulary learning make this even more appealing.

FIREFIGHTER

FINN'S FUN TRUCKS: FIREFIGHTERS by Finn Coyle and Srimalie Bassani

Truck enthusiasts of all kinds will enjoy this lift-the-flap question-and-answer style book. Written by a teen truck expert!

FOODIE

DINOS LOVE DONUTS by Cottage Door Press and Christine Sheldon

Dinos love donuts and chicken nuggets, but they also love healthy foods like tofu and hummus! Encourage your child to try lots of foods with this fun lift-the-flap.

FORMULA 1 FAN

BIZZY BEAR: RACECAR DRIVER by Benji Davies

With tabs to pull and slides to push, this brightly illustrated board book is sure to win! Add in a rhyming storyline and race-track vocabulary and you'll definitely get a checkered flag!*

*sorry. I'll se myself out.

WINNING RACE CAR by Little Hippo Books and Amy Cartwright

Ride along with a race car and its driver as they prepare for a big race! Bright, bold illustrations and touch-and-feel elements are sure to engage.

GAMER

MINI GAMER by Alexander Cox and Scott Barker

Okay, this may be the most gimmicky on the list. Nonetheless, your gamer friend will know you see them (and their impending little one) with this interactive board book.

HAIRSTYLIST/BARBER

HAIR by Leslie Patricelli

Leslie Patricelli's board books are delightful. A diaper-clad baby talks about their hair and how they take care of it and take us along for their first haircut!

MY HAIR IS LIKE THE SUN by St Clair Detrick-Jules and Tabitha Brown

This is a lovely celebration of natural hair that features gorgeous photography - and babies love looking at pictures of other babies!

LETTER CARRIER

MAIL DUCK by Erica Sirotich

Mail duck delivers different-shaped packages to all his friends. Lift the flaps and peek at what's inside! A great introduction to shapes and the cartoon art is fun and colorful.

LIBRARIAN

STANLEY'S LIBRARY by William Bee

All of the Stanley books are, quite simply, delightful. In this outing, Stanley drives his bookmobile to the park where everyone picks out a special book. He even hosts an author visit!

MATHEMATICIAN

UP TO MY KNEES! by Grace Lin

This title, and others in the Storytelling Math series, approach different early math concepts in an accessible way just right for toddlers and preschoolers. In this outing, we compare the height of a sunflower to ourselves as it grows throughout the summer.

MUSEUM CURATOR

A MARVELOUS MUSEUM by Ingela P. Arrhenius

Take a first trip to a museum! Look at art, check out some dinosaur bones. The shaped pages make handling this book especially fun.

MUSICIAN

PLINKA PLINKA SHAKE SHAKE by Emma Garcia

A great introduction to various instruments and what sounds they make! When your child is ready, make them together! Colorful illustrations and big words draw the eye.

MY LITTLE MUSIC BOOK: I LOVE MUSIC by Marion Billet

Another great introduction to instruments and sounds, but with the actual instrument sounds embedded in the book! And, ahem, the batteries ARE included.

PALEONTOLOGIST

RUMBLE RUMBLE DINOSAUR by Katrina Charman and Nick Sharratt

Dinosaurs! Bright colors! A text you can sing to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!" What more could you ask for?

PALETERO/ICED TREAT VENDOR

SLURP by Gaia Stella

Mix-and-match the tops and bottoms of different iced pops to make new ones! What flavor do you think this one is? Bright colors and patterns make this a visual delight.

PHOTOGRAPHER

SAY CHEESE! A LIFT-THE-FLAP BOOK OF FARM PHOTOS by Sophie Aggett and Pauline Gregory

The farm animals are trying to get the perfect picture. But SOMEONE keeps jumping in and ruining the pictures! Lift the flaps to see the hilarious results!

PILOT

PLANES GO by Steve Light

Fighter jets! Helicopters! Jumbo jets! Oh my! This book has them all - plus the sounds they make. The long, wide shape of the book is perfect to fit all of these flying vehicles in.

MAISY'S PLANE by Lucy Cousins

Our favorite mouse is flying off to celebrate her friend Eddie. Tallulah flies nearby in a hot air balloon! Maisy remains a stalwart character in toddler literature, and the simple text and bright, easy-to-see illustrations show us why. Bonus: the book is cloud-shaped!

POTTER

PLAY WITH CLAY by Jenny Pinkerton

Watch a ball of clay transform before your very eyes! It's a snake, then a coil, then a ball... what else can it be?

SPORTS FAN

LOVE IS A BALL by Amy Novesky and Sarah Gillingham

This is a wonderful series that focuses on things littles love - in this case, a ball. A ball can be used for so many kinds of sports, but is also a bubble, a balloon, and the moon. Sharp, contrasting colors make this an easy-to-see choice.

SPORTY BABY: A SPIN-AND-SLIDE BOOK by Workman Publishing and Grace Habib

Babies and toddlers will enjoy interacting with this playful book! Pick a sport and play!

STARGAZER

HELLO WORLD: SOLAR SYSTEM by Jill McDonald

Another in the series! This one contains words and simple facts about the sun, moon, planets and stars.

TATTOO ARTIST

MY FIRST BOOK OF TATTOOS by Robyn Wall and Lydia Nichols

Multicultural babies play with grown-ups who have various tattoos. I love that we're normalizing tattoos as a part of personal expression!

THERAPIST

HOW ARE YOU FEELING? by Mudpuppy and Erin Jang

Get an introduction to all kinds of feelings in this colorful lift-the-flap book. Helping children learn the names of their feelings is great for their social-emotional development!

TRAIN CONDUCTOR

NUMBER TRAIN by Jonathan Emmett and Ingela P. Arrhenius

Honestly, if you're looking for a guaranteed hit board book, look no further than Nosy Crow. In this train-shaped title with shiny bright retro-style illustrations, learn numbers and lift flaps to your hearts' content.

WORLD TRAVELER

GLOBAL BABIES by The Global Fund for Children

Babies love looking at photos of other babies. Smile at these sweet pictures of babies all over the world.

MY FIRST BOOK OF TRAVEL by Robyn Wall and Lydia Nichols

Take a trip with baby! Whether at the beach or in a hotel, it's fun to travel!

WRITER

TOUCH AND TRACE: ABC LEARN WITH ME by Editors of Silver Dolphin Books and Emily Bannister

So, rather than choose a book about the life of a writer, I have chosen here a book that will help a young child get ready to write. Touch-and-trace books like this help build finger strength and letter muscle memory which will aid in learning to hold a pen or pencil and write on paper later on.

ZOOKEEPER

HELLO HELLO by Brendan Wenzel

This is one of my all-time favorite toddler books. Rather than just describing various animals, Wenzel has grouped them in unusual ways: by size, shape, pattern, color, and more. Additional information about each animal is included at the back. There are also additional titles focusing just on shapes, colors, numbers, and more!

Need more ideas? See my posts on my favorite books for babies to learn what babies at different stages of development will enjoy in a book.